Well, Merry Christmas!!! I trust everyone is recovered from Thanksgiving “indulgence” and is now enjoying turkey soup.

This is a very busy season for all of us. Please remember that God is in charge (i.e. STAY COOL). Getting stressed is a choice – rebuke stress – it isn’t worth the damage it does to you and to others. We each have been given 24 hours in a day. Seek to honor Jesus the Messiah with each one of them!

Our primary purpose for being on earth is to learn to love God and to love others. [Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and Matthew 22:37-40]

Regarding that busy schedule – In just 26 days the next online “Principles of American Government” (PAG) course begins (9AM (PT), Monday, January 5th). You should obtain the text books and phone me to be properly enrolled and ready to begin the class.

A very special invitation for those who have completed a PAG course – The members of the 2014-09-08 PAG class want to continue meeting from time to time. We have named it “PAG Post-Graduate Course” (PAG P-G) Using Skype, the class meets at 8AM (PT), the 1st Friday of each month. Beginning 2015-01-02. There is no tuition. Interested PAG alums must ask onto the call-list.

Each PAG P-G class will begin with prayer and a thought/reasoning question followed with discussion of current issues.

Our fall PAG online course is drawing to a close. Those who take ACH Study Groups courses are invited to write “Student Comments” to be added to the tab in our web site.

The next 3-month course begins on Monday, January 5th. Using Skype as a virtual interactive classroom, we meet at 9AM (Pacific time), M &W for 75 minutes. Please see the detailed syllabus on our web site www.ACHStudyGroups.com

Miss Mattanah D. just posted a comment that speaks of the course:

Subject: ACHStudyGroups.com Student Comment Submission

First Name: Mattanah

Home State: Tennessee

Your Role: Student

Your Comments: I’m incredibly thankful that God opened the door for me to participate in the PAG course taught by Mr. Gilmore. This program has helped me grow in many ways, but I’ll try to condense them into 3 things.

1. The PAG course has given me a more solid foundation for my faith – which is most important. Understanding the faith of those who have gone before me and learning how they put action to their faith motivates me to do the same.

2. The PAG course has given me a greater ability to think critically and deeply about a variety of topics. I have gained excellent study habits and debate skills. Participating in this class has helped me to excel in my other classes as well, because the skills taught are applicable to every area of life.

3. The PAG course has prepared me for my future career. I have an interest in inter-cultural studies and political science. My goal is to work in the political arena. I can see now that before I began working toward this goal, it was essential that I have a firm foundation on which to base my ideas and decisions. This course is so important for people entering the political field because they will not only learn principles that apply to past circumstances, but principles that will apply to all future circumstances.

If you are reading this and considering participation in the PAG class, I HIGHLY recommend that you do. Even if your career goals aren’t necessarily political, this class will equip you for whatever field you enter.

Thank you, Mr. Gilmore, for your investment in my walk with The Lord and my education. I know that He has used you to speak into my life, and I pray that He blesses you and your family beyond measure for it!

An ACH alum sent me a soda straw I have taped atop my monitor. Have you ever enjoyed a milk shake and commented, “That was a great straw!” Comments like Mattanah’s (above) remind me of the blessings of being a “straw”.

“For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot shall say, ‘Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body’; is it therefore not of the body? … But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. … [N]ow are they many members, yet but one body.”

[1st Corinthians 12]

As Fran and I began the day, reading Scripture then praying – these thoughts came to mind:

All across America are dedicated Christians who understand the problems facing our society. We feel helpless to do anything to solve the problems. We recognize that we have a hand in selecting our civil leaders, but we wonder about vote fraud. Every issue is used by others as a fund raiser and we wonder about which to support. We are overwhelmed!

That is where the enemy wants us. It is NOT where God wants us!

STOP! “Be still; and know that I am God.” [Psalm 46:10]

Christian friend of mine, you are an heir of God. You are “family”. You are part of His plan. You have a role to play! Begin by knowing and believing that.

If you feel inadequate – good! We are all inadequate! Nothing we do for God is of any value – BUT – What God does through us is everlasting!

Each of us can pray. Each of us can submit our will to His. Each of us can choose to obey the thoughts He places in our minds. [please see Proverbs 16:3] Then – each of us becomes a part of a living, functioning “body”.

It does not require a majority – One man and God is a super majority! Are you called to lead? Then lead! Are you called to follow? Then follow. Are you called to teach, write, sing, dance, motivate, pray, …what ever? Then have faith that it is your part in His plan and just do it! The rest of us need you. God needs you!

Christ will return unexpectedly. How will He find you? Will you be hunkered down in the fort with the draw bridge raised – Thinking everything is going to get worse and worse — Waiting defensively for Him to return and make everything right? Or – Will He find you aggressively doing what He is leading you to do, in behalf of His grand plan?

“The whole life of the Christian, from the beginning to the end, is a conflict with the world and the powers of darkness, a conflict within and without.” [August Neander 1789 – 1850]

Conflict within – None of us have achieved “perfection”! Each of us have good days and bad days. Have you noticed that there is a tendency to build up momentum when we slip backwards? Violating our conscience gets easier.

On the other hand, the same is true when we repent and turn around! We control the direction with our choices and God’s help.

Conflict without – The world around us is always in conflict. That too seems to build momentum one way or the other. I believe that is the reason God is so interested in our learning history (His-story). “Today” can seem like the worst day ever, unless we see it in the context of far worse days in the past.

On the other hand, history proves that God is truly in control. Darkness does give way to light. It isn’t over until God says it is over!

All of my life, I have watched frantic efforts to deceive the righteous that they are weak, that they are fighting a losing battle, that there is no hope. The ungodly are frantic because they know that light drives out darkness. They must keep us from even the slightest victory, lest we begin to build momentum.

We are far more powerful than the world leads us to believe. Eventually someone turns on a light! Suddenly, our opponent becomes a paper tiger! The recent election shines light on the fact that most Americans oppose darkness, contrary to what the world has been telling us.

The world is bombarding us with explosive bad news. It is an effort to push us back into darkness and prevent our gaining momentum toward righteousness. This is a time for cool heads. If they cannot hold us back, the enemy will try to push us out the other side into violence.

On the other hand, if each of us does what is right, because it is right, we offer God the opportunity to lead us into the light. Let us pray that He will lead and inspire our godly leaders and deal with the others.

America has been, and is now, a light for the world. That is NOT because of our rightness. It is because of what God has done through us! Our best days are ahead of us. Join me in believing that. [2nd Chronicles 7:14]

The U.S. Constitution – Article I, Section 7 – – “All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills.”

It is important that we understand the rules by which “We the People” have chosen to be governed. The House of Representatives (nick named “The people’s house”) is the only place in the national government where spending laws can begin. The Senate can only propose amendments. The President and Supreme Court have no authority to originate a law.

Without congressional approval the U.S. Treasury has no authority to write a single government check! Each body (House & Senate) must eventually agree on amendments before a Bill is sent to the President for signature. Thus – “The people’s house” holds the purse strings.

The President’s job, as defined by the Constitution, is to execute the laws passed to him by Congress. If he chooses to go rogue, and operate on his own, “The people’s house” can refuse to fund his rogue projects. They have the authority to shut down the government. It has been done many times in the past.

The only job the federal government has been hired by “We the people” to do, is to protect our individual lives, liberties and property. Unlike citizens of other nations, we are at liberty under God. We joined together to create a government to protect that liberty from ungodly forces.

The senate is led by evil men (Senator Harry Reed & Senator Mitch McConnel). They have consistently put power and privilege ahead of the best interest of “We the people”. We should encourage our Representatives in the House not to bow to “politically correct” politics and to stand on principle. Shut down the government if need be, rather than allow rogue power to govern.

Patrick Henry asked in 1775, “But when will we be stronger? Will it be next week or next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction?”

Patrick Henry concluded his electrifying declaration with these memorable words, “What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”

I posted “Homosex & peace” on June 3rd, 2014. (Please see “Ben’s blog” archives tab in our web site.) Three weeks ago I believe the Lord told me to write on the subject again. That created a dilemma – “Delayed obedience (3 weeks!) is disobedience!” vs. the fire the first post drew from sources I respect. I have hesitated. Have I a “blind spot” Lord?

I was 35 before I surrendered my will to Jesus. Suddenly everything changed! The Bible had been boring – Now it was alive (I couldn’t get enough)! I polished my “new Christian” armor, picked up my “sword”, went outside astride my giant, white, war-horse and galloped across the field of battle slashing this way and that. Turning proudly to survey the results, I discovered bleeding saints with the enemy on the sidelines, cheering me on!!! I had not developed a loving heart.

I believe the Lord wants me to encourage the saints – not beat them over the head with their own Bibles! A critic of the June 3rd post wrote, “I have given a lot of thoughtto this whole issue, and have come to the conclusion that my best witness to them is love. The love that Jesus gave to the tax collectors, the sinners, and the woman caught in adultery. It was the pharisees, quoting scripture and slinging stones that incurred his harshest criticism.”

My critic continued, “The Christian right has lost its voice and its influence in our society,

causing the very problems you discuss. The louder we shout about the problem, the less we are heard. Nobody cares. Because they do not experience our love. We are a resounding gong and a clanging cymbal – so annoying and irrelevant, that people just want us to shut up.”

Jolt!!!

On the other hand, Christ and His followers also quoted scripture. He did indeed love me while I was choosing to sin. He loved “the tax collectors, the sinners, and the woman caught in adultery.”

The key word here appears to me to be, “love”. “…the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” [Mark 1:15] Christ loved enough to warn those He loved. Today, we would call that “tough love”. It is a lot easier on both the sinner and the saint to stroke them and tell them, “God loves you, and so do I!” but leave out the part about, “repent”.

Today, we have rejected any standard of “right & wrong”. Without a standard there is no stability. If our society, you and I, tell someone the homosexual lifestyle is all right, it is even “legal”. And they are deceived into believing it. Have we been “loving”?

If we fail to offer a standard and let society drift aimlessly toward chaos, are we loving as Jesus loved? Granted: The world sees us as, “… a resounding gong and a clanging cymbal – so annoying and irrelevant, that people just want us to shut up.” Christ foretold that the world would hate what we say.

But, I challenge whether, “The Christian right has lost its voice and its influence in our society,…” Rather, isn’t it a lowering of our standards that is causing the problems?

Is it true? “The louder we shout about the problem, the less we are heard. Nobody cares.” The growing Christianinfluence appears to have been manifested in our recent election. There appears to be a significant movement toward raising our standards. People do indeed care. Christ’s life and teaching is the solution. We have solutions that work.

Lastly – If it is true that we are to love God with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength – and our neighbor as our self – What does it say about our priorities if we have greater love for a neighbor, whose lifestyle is breaking the heart of the One we love the most?

It has become our tradition for the “clan” to gather around the table at our son’s home. During the meal each in turn shares things for which they are thankful. Often each place is set with 5 colonels of corn and someone reads Larry Wagner’s poem, “Pilgrim Fathers”. It is outstanding.

Pilgrim Fathers

By Larry Wagner November 1984

The second harvest gathered since they crossed Atlantic waters,

A feast of thankfulness was set by grateful Pilgrim Fathers:

So great the providence of God, so blest with fruit their labors,

So sweet the bond among their band, such peace with Indian neighbors.

But most among the feasting crowd could count harsh years of toil.

Of wand’ring for their faith in God, of want on alien soil,

Of flagging hopes and faith, bad health, of chills that hell could send.

I am writing from the edge of the war-zone in Iraq and Syria. As a follower of Jesus I am convinced the solution to ISIS and other religious extremists is to follow the example of Jesus. He stepped into the Middle East when it was convulsed by an occupying army using torture and plunder to subdue the people. And what did He do?

Jesus went on a grace offensive, reaching out in love and offering forgiveness! What a compelling example of a radical response – more radical than terrorist radicals by far.

Paul the apostle says we are not in a political or military battle against earthly religions and despots. He says it is a spiritual battle we are in, not against people but against spiritual powers working through people (Ephesians 6:12). If that is true, and with everything in me I believe it is true, we have to respond as our supreme commander taught us to respond.

As an American, I am tempted to see the crisis here in the Middle East as a political battle to be won by bombing the ISIS troops. But what will happen if we kill all 20,000 ISIS soldiers? I think there is a good chance they will be replaced by another 30,000 fanatics. And if we kill them, others will join ISIS and Al-Queda, and fight back with even more extreme tactics. I am not against using military force to oppose evil, but I believe there is a higher way, if I can call it that.

The higher way is more extreme than the extremists! It is the way of Jesus followers going to dangerous places, putting our lives at risk, and sacrificing all we have and hold dear to bring the message of God’s love in Christ. It is the way of caring for war widows and healing suffering soldiers, of taking the gospel into the strongholds of ISIS.

Did you know that Jesus is leading the battle for ISIS? Reports are coming out now of ISIS leaders turning to Jesus. I have no verification of those reports, but I believe it is like Jesus to do that. He is on the front lines, fighting valiantly for the hearts and lives of people. Right now… He is there, among ISIS leaders in Iraq and Syria. He is appearing to them like He did to Paul on the road to Damascus, on his way to kill and imprison believers.

Jesus’ weapons are the cross, forgiveness, and the sacrificial service of His followers laying down their lives to share the good news.

I knew from my previous visits to Jordan and Lebanon that God is drawing Syrian refugees to Jesus in great numbers, but nothing in my 49 years of mission experiences compares to what I have seen in the last few days…

Yesterday I was with a young father who had been involved in the intelligence service of the Syrian army, sickened by being ordered to kill innocent people, so he fled from Syria. He has been reading the four gospels, what Muslims call the Injil. He told me yesterday, "All the descendants of Adam have turned away from God. God looked for a perfect messenger to speak to people who turned away from Him, but he could find none. So he sent His Spirit on Mary and she conceived Jesus, and then he gave Himself as a sacrifice to take our place for our sins.” Amazing!

One of our workers told me about Hara. She had a dream of Jesus last autumn, when He looked her in the eye and said, "I want what is rightfully mine." She is still having dreams, including one a few weeks ago in which God called her to convene a group of women in her home to encourage one another, grow together, and read the Bible together. God used a dream to invite her to start a simple church in her home.

And then there is the story of Omar, whose life has been saved miraculously more than once. In one case, soldiers actually pointed a loaded gun at him and pulled the trigger, more than once – but it didn’t fire. God is saving him for a great destiny! He has had many dreams from God. At the last visit, he said, "Every time you pray for us, I feel a light from heaven shining down upon us, into my heart."

None of these folks I have mentioned are supporters of ISIS. 95% of the Muslims in the Middle East hate what ISIS is doing. In fact, one hundred percent of the Syrians I have met here in Jordan are strongly against ISIS. But the fact that Jesus is fighting so sacrificially for these hearts – and winning – means He also longs for the hearts of the extremists.

Even the Apostle Paul was using terrorist tactics against Christians before Jesus encountered him! It was a Holy Spirit encounter that changed Paul. Please join me in praying fervently for Jesus to break through in the hearts of those enslaved by evil. If Ephesians 6:12 is right, our prayers may be more effective than any air strike could ever be.

It is a privilege for Sally and me to serve those who are serving on the front lines here in Jordan, in Lebanon, Iraq and Oman and throughout the Muslim world. God is drawing millions of Muslims to Jesus: in one Muslim majority country an average of one person every fifteen seconds is coming to faith in Christ!

Sally and I want to live out the rest of our lives training workers for a Jesus army of mercy and grace extremists! We are so grateful for your help in doing this. We have a faith goal we would like to ask you to help us achieve to play our part. We need 20 new ministry partners who will support us with $25 (R250) a month or more. Since I first shared this need 11 people have committed to partner with us in this way!

Will you pray about being one of the nine to say yes to partnering with us? Thank you! Just nine more to go to reach our goal of 20!

I pray the love of God will surround and comfort and strengthen you in the days to come. May He be close to you and protect you and yours. May He provide for you in great abundance, both for your soul and body.

With love,

Floyd and Sally McClung

PS While I have been here in Jordan Sally is back home in Cape Town. She had her fourth round of chemo treatment for ovarian cancer just two days before I left on this trip. I have called her each day and she is doing better than after any previous treatment. She has had no vomiting, no extreme pain, and has been slowly gaining strength each day. We are so grateful!!!

How to Partner With Us:

To donate in the USA:

Please send a check made out to All Nations, with a note attached saying it is for Floyd and Sally McClung, to:

OR: click on the following link, choose GIVE / PAY in the menu bar, click on Donate, click on Paypal, fill in card details, click on Review donations and continue, under All Nations click on +I prefer my donation go to support and then type Floyd & Sally McClung in the box. http://www.allnations.us

We have the privilege in America to choose those who govern us. As Christians, it is also our duty to do so.

Civil government is a divine institution of God. It exists to protect the life, liberty, and property of citizens, enabling them to more effectively advance the Kingdom of God. Civil leaders are servants of the people and of God, and are to govern under His higher authority. Rulers are to be ministers of God for good. (See Rom. 13:1-7; 1 Pet. 2:13-14; Luke 22:25-26.)

For government to fulfill its divine mission, Christians must be involved in selecting good men and women to office. Ideally they would meet all the qualifications for Godly officials. When Moses told the Israelites to select from among them those who would govern them, he set forth a number of Biblical qualifications. He said: “You shall select out of all the people, able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain” (Ex. 18:21). “Choose wise and discerning and experienced men” (Deut. 1:13). He cited three general qualifications for governing officials: fear of God, Christian character, and Biblical worldview.

1. Fear God

The fear of God is an essential qualification for a godly official. What are such people like? Matthias Burnet explained in an election sermon in 1803 that they are, “men acting under the belief and awe of God as their inspector and judge, to whom they consider themselves accountable for their conduct and whom they fear to offend.”[1]

A man who fears God is not someone who simply professes faith, attends church, or culturally embraces Christianity, but someone who has a reverential fear of the Almighty. “When the righteous rule, the people rejoice” (Prov. 29:2). The righteous have right standing with God; they fear the true and living God.

2. Christian Character

A second qualification is morality. They should be “men truly honest and upright in their principles and views, not actuated and governed by the sordid motives of self interest and aggrandizement in their desire and execution of office, but by a sincere regard to the public good.”[2]

Corrupt and unprincipled rulers (like Josef Stalin, Adolf Hitler, and Mao Tse-tung) have brought great misery to mankind, including loss of liberty and the downfall of nations, while U.S. socialist and progressive leaders of the 20th century have done much to steal the liberty and property of many. The actions of these leaders flowed from a wrong worldview. Many displayed dishonest and immoral behavior.

Chandler Robbins, in an election sermon in 1791, said, “Nothing will so surely, so rapidly bring on the dissolution of society, and the loss of the liberties of a people, as a want of virtue and integrity in their rulers.”[3]

A vital quality for leaders is honesty. Proverbs 29:12 says, “If a ruler pays attention to falsehood [hearkens to lies], all his ministers become wicked.” If they cannot keep personal vows or oaths, we cannot expect them to keep national vows. We have witnessed the negative consequences of such conduct in recent years.

Knowledge or intelligence (as man sees it) without honesty — a good genius with a bad heart — is worse than an ignorant honest man because the evil genius could find more subtle ways to rob the people of their rights. Some have argued support for certain candidates based upon their intelligence, saying: “He’s so smart. We ought to elect him.” Yet, if such a person, no matter how smart, is reasoning from wrong presuppositions, or has bad character, he will not be a good leader.

Humility is a second great quality needed in leaders. Jesus taught that leaders are to be servants (Matt. 20:25-28).

3. Biblical Worldview

Thinking Biblically is of great importance because a leader will act and vote based upon how he thinks (Prov. 23:7). The best leaders will have a Biblical philosophy of government, understanding its purpose and limited nature.

The tendency of fallen man is to assume too much power for himself, often justified for benevolent reasons. Jesus taught we are to render to Caesar (civil government) things under his jurisdiction (which are very limited) and to God the things that are God’s (Matt. 22:15-21). As America has moved towards socialism, we have been rendering to Caesar the things that are God’s. Under all forms of statism, civil government assumes the role of God, the family, the church, and the private sector.

Socialism is the golden calf of modern America and is a great threat to liberty and prosperity. Discerning whether a candidate adheres to a Biblical or socialistic philosophy of government comes down to the question, “Who controls the property and children in the nation?” Whoever controls the property controls the present; whoever controls the children controls the future. God has given this responsibility to the family, not the state.

We must seek to choose leaders who understand the divine, but very limited, role of civil government. Without knowledgeable Christians participating in elections, America will become another Tower of Babel, with man looking to himself for all things.

Godly leaders begin with Godly citizens. Reform begins in our house, but it will eventually be reflected in the state house and the White House. America needs Godly transformation. Those who are transformed need to be eternally vigilant to have this reflected in our civil leaders.

The election of unprincipled men produces misery and tyranny, but Godly rulers bring peace, prosperity, justice, and rejoicing. If we fulfill our duty and place Godly men in office, our future will be bright.

—

Stephen McDowell is President and co-founder of the Providence Foundation, an organization whose purpose is to spread Christian liberty among the nations. Stephen has trained people from 100 countries to apply Biblical truth in all spheres of life, consulted with government officials, assisted in starting political parties, and aided in starting Christian schools and Biblical worldview training centers. He has authored and co-authored over 30 books and training courses including Liberating the Nations and America’s Providential History. To learn more visit ProvidenceFoundation.com